Adaptive Torsional Tuned Vibration Absorber for Rotary Equipment

This paper proposes an innovative solution to suppress torsional vibrations in any rotating machinery with a variable frequency of excitation, or a variable natural frequency. The adaptive torsional tuned vibration absorber (ATTVA) was designed using an integrated electromagnetic circuit, which can adapt its natural frequency to match the varying natural frequency of any Multi Degree of Freedom (MDOF) rotating system. A two degree of freedom rotating system was modeled along with the integrated ATTVA using the bond graph modeling technique. Simulation results showed that torsional vibrations can be easily attenuated by controlling the capacitance shunted to the voice coil circuit. The ATTVA was designed, fabricated and evaluated on a test rig in the laboratory. Test results revealed good matching between the mathematical model and the experimental data. Experiments were performed with different configurations of the ATTVA, and the experimental results showed reasonable suppression in vibration magnitude at the desired frequency.